Ferrari F10 2010 launch driver quotes

Fernando Alonso
Alonso: "We have the best technicians in the world "
Maranello, 28 January 2010 - Fernando Alonso arrived at the convention
centre for the press conference at the presentation of the F10, the new
single-seater for the 2010 ...

Fernando Alonso

Alonso: "We have the best technicians in the world "

Maranello, 28 January 2010 - Fernando Alonso arrived at the convention
centre for the press conference at the presentation of the F10, the new
single-seater for the 2010 season, in the afternoon to answer the
journalists' questions. The Spanish driver's first impressions of the new
car were positive: "Regarding its comfort it seems to be more or less on the
same level as last year's car. There's always something to improve in the
cockpit -- seat, elbows, pedals, which have a different inclination compared
to the standard set up, while we've been working on the steering wheel
mainly in November and December to simplify things a little compared to the
past."

Alonso was extremely calm regarding the possibilities of the F10's
development: "I'm very calm regarding the work done by all the technicians
at Ferrari. We have the best technicians in the world. The work we're doing
in February, with Felipe's and my suggestions on the car, makes me really
confident as far as the first race is concerned. We have a team that is able
to set up the best possible car for you in a very short time. What raises
our confidence are the technicians, the data from the wind tunnel, the
suspension, the mechanics and the engine. It might even happen that the data
on the track will be even more encouraging." The Spanish driver has no
doubts about his relationship with his teammate: "Felipe and I both race for
Ferrari. It is important that a red car wins. We'll both give it our all to
improve our performance, we'll both give 100%. I've always had strong
teammates and I never had any problems with then. I have a great relation to
all of them and it won't be different with Felipe." The role the simulator
will play will be pretty important: "The simulator serves more and more
every year, because the rules allow us less and less tests on the track. But
reality is always different."

The journalists were then mainly asking about the 2010 rules and especially
about the fact that refuelling won't be allowed anymore: "The new rules will
also lead to some changes in our driving styles. The drivers have to adapt
to every situation, especially during the first laps in the race. Without a
warm up on Sunday we'll have slower cars at the first brake points."
According to the Spanish driver more details will be available soon: "We'll
have a more precise idea after the first test; with the petrol load we can
put into the tank we'll all have a different load on board. We'll
concentrate on our work during the tests, without considering the lap times;
we'll see if we'll be satisfied with the car or not." Alonso also commented
on the new points system: "It's the same for all. Although as far as I am
concerned, I'm a traditionalist; we're losing a little bit of the
statistics. Today in the top ten I'm on place four in terms of overall
points in the history of F1. The statistics will get lost over time, because
the drivers will earn more points. But the sport has to renew itself and
they decided like that because they think that this is the best possible
way." Answering the question if there will be more or less overtaking
manoeuvres Alonso said: "Nothing will change this year, you always have to
take every opportunity to overtake, although, knowing nothing about the
strategies of the other teams, the qualifying will be really important.

As far as the traditional predictions are concerned, Alonso commented:
"Every season is exciting and interesting at the start; even last year I was
very confident. It's the same this year, although there are the expectations
regarding Schumacher's comeback, which is very good for F1, which might be
well received by TV viewers. I think that there will be two teams fighting
for the Drivers' Title and two for the Constructors' Title. Let's hope we'll
be there. Winning the title. I'm not making a bet here, right now everything
is too open."

In the end the Spanish driver spoke about his dreams he wants to make come
true with Ferrari: "All my dreams in my career came true: now the one to
become a Ferrari driver. 10 years ago I met Ferrari managers, but back then
it was about racing for a client team, like Prost.

Now the feeling is different, I can almost feel the car in Valencia, it's
very exciting. I hope to stay here for many years, because if you don't win
the Championship one year, you don't have to consider to change the team."

Felipe Massa

Massa: "I expect that we'll rapidly learn the race strategies and how to
manage the car"

A serene and motivated Felipe Massa spoke to the press during the conference
at the presentation of the F10. The first question was about the 2010 rules,
which alter the approach to the races noticeably: "How do you think the
races will look like with the new rules?"

"We'll start with less petrol into the weekend, while we will start into the
race with enough petrol for the whole distance. Then there are other
details, such as the points assigned to the first and second in the races.
Having all these changes in mind we have to pay a lot of attention and learn
rapidly in terms of strategy and, as far as I am concerned, regarding
driving the car to be immediately competitive."

Felipe should have driven the F10 at its debut in the afternoon, but the
weather conditions weren't right. So the Brazilian driver spoke about his
enormous contribution to the single-seater's development: "Many things
happened in 2009, resulting in difficult conditions for us to work on the
car. We started very early thinking about 2010. We were asking for many
modifications not just regarding aerodynamics, but also the engine and the
tank. Everything was really important considering the 2010 rules. What's
very important is that every single detail can bring tenths of a second."

Another topic were the great expectations regarding his teammate Fernando
Alonso: "The expectations as far as my teammate is concerned I've been
living for many years now. When there's a new driver at Ferrari there are
great expectations and the goal is to work well as a team, to be complete.
I'll have a very strong teammate. I've always done good work, learned a lot,
shown many times that I'm able to win and fight, whoever my teammate was.
Michael is a friend and I learned a lot from him, but on the track we'll be
competitors. Although we'll have a good relationship, as always. I'm happy
that he's cheering for me."

The journalists also wanted to talk about Massa's accident last year: "I had
a really unbelievable accident. But naturally safety is something we're
working on every single day. We have to continue like this and there will be
much more work to do also amongst us drivers and on the tracks to improve.
On a personal level I'm happy that with everything that happened nothing has
changed in my work."

In the end there was a private question: what is more exciting: the baptism
of the F10 or the upcoming one of your son?

"Felipinho was born in November and it was an incredible feeling. I'm so
proud and happy. This here today is a different child: the F10; we have to
let it grow rapidly and lift it to a higher level. What we can see here
today is the result of many months of hard work on the car, let's hope that
we'll be competitive right from the start."